South Africa suffer blow: Zwane banned for three matches

The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has handed a three-match suspension to South Africa midfielder Themba Zwane following an incident in the opening match of the World Cup against Mexico.

The 36-year-old player received a red card towards the end of the game for headbutting Mexico defender Roberto Alvarado. While a one-match ban is automatic for such an offense, FIFA's Disciplinary Committee extended the punishment to three matches.

South Africa lost the match 0-2 and finished with nine players. Earlier, midfielder Jaja Sithols had been sent off for a last-man foul, stopping an opponent in a one-on-one situation with the goalkeeper. Mexico also did not finish with a full squad: midfielder Cesar Montes was shown a red card in the second minute of stoppage time for a foul as the last defender.

South Africa head coach Hugo Bross commented after the match, agreeing with Sithols' red card but believing Zwane's dismissal was too harsh. Bross stated that the Mexican player blocked his player and that, in his opinion, it was not a red-card offense. He added that the team must accept the referee's decision but that there is room for debate on the second red card.

FIFA noted that the South African Football Association has the right to appeal the decision. Zwane will miss not only the next group stage match against Czech Republic but also two additional games, a major blow to South Africa's hopes of advancing to the knockout stages.